Safety trolley-wheel.



J. A. BURTON. SAFETY TROLLBY WHEEL.

ABPLIGATION FILED AUG. 8, 1911.

Patented May 12, 1914.

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I vuwtoa M17 LUMBIA P NOGRAP Na'roN J. A. BURTON. SAFETY TROLLEY WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED 111m. 8, 1911.

1,096,020. Patented May 12, 1914.

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w I t 3/ I 't'iair JAMES A. BURTON, 0F COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY TROLLEY-WHEEL.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Trolley- Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 'in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a safety trolley wheel adapted for use in connection with a trolley pole for electrically propelled cars, whereby the conducting wire will be positively held in position within the grooved pulley wheel or trolley wheel and so that movement of the pole will not cause accidental displacement of the wire from the said wheel.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved and simple form of retaining means for holding the trolley wheel on the wire, permitting it to pass the usual hangers of the conducting wire and permitting the removal of the trolley pole wheel from the wire when desired.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain other combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being a still further object to provide a device which will not be likely to get out of working order.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved trolley wheel show ing a portion of the pole upon which the same is journaled and also showing the wheel engaged with a conducting wire. Fig. 2 is an underside view of my improved device. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device, showing the device in position for disengagement from the conductor wire. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the pivoted plates forming the means for preventing the accidental disengagement of the wheel from the conductor wire.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown the upper end portion of a trolley pole 10 having a forked upper end pro-viding spaced parallel leg portions 11 between which a trolley wheel 12 of the usual grooved type for receiving the conductor wire 13 is rotatably journaled upon a shaft 14 The extremities of the shaft 1a extend through Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1911.

Patented May 12, ieie.

Serial No. 642,940.

registering apertures intermediate the ends of the leg portions 11 and have opposite plate members 15 loosely mounted thereon in a vertical position at right angles to the conductor wire 13 and traversing said leg portions, this connection being accomplished through the medium of the comparatively oval slots 16 through each of said plate members intermediate their ends and centrally of their widths.

Spaced vertically disposed eyes 17 are secured upon opposite horizontal sides of the shaft 14 to each of the plates 15 and oval headed pins 18 are extended through openings transversely of the ends of said shaft and through the eyes to securely hold the plates in position but permit pivotal movement of the plates upon the said pins through the medium of the slots 16.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the portions of the plates 15 adjacent the upper edges of the leg portions 11 are offset inwardly as shown at 19 so as to space the upper extremities of the plates in close proximity to the sides of the wheel 12 and the upper ends thereof are directed inwardly to form guard members 20 which are somewhat tapered and reduced in thiclniess. These members or inturned portions 20 are rounded at their end portions as shown at 21 so that the edges will converge toward each other and provide an intermediate space 22 so that the device will readily pass the usual hangers employed for supporting conductor wires in position. It will also be observed that the converging edges permit such pas sage without friction should the hanger strike at one of these edges or not directly into the slot, although the said slot or space 22 is not sufiiciently wide to permit the passage of the conductor wire 13.

The lower portions of the plates 15 beyond their pivotal connections are extended outwardly in divergent relation and are formed at their lower ends with outwardly and upwardly turned spaced cars 23 and intermediate slots 24 in which the outer ends of a pair of connecting links 25 are pivotally secured by the pivot bolts 26. The inner end of one of the links 25 is formed with spaced extensions 27 and an intermediate slot formed with a recess 28 in its bottom edge and inner end wall for receiving an extension 29 upon the lower edge of a reduced portion 30 formed at the inner end of the other link and adapted to engage in the said recess to limit the movement of the links in a rigid line and the consequential movement of the inturned upper ends 20 toward each other.

In order to hold the plates normally expanded at their lower ends and properly spaced apart at their upper ends, I provide a pair of lugs 31 which extend inwardly from the plates above the links 25 and have reduced portions which are riveted in apertures in said plates, :1 series of these apertures indicated by the numeral 32 being adapted to permit adjustment of the lugs for receiving a coiled spring 33 thereon and contacting at its ends with the inner faces of the plates to force them outwardly and dispose the upper ends together but sufficiently spaced apart to pass the usual hangers for the conductor wire. A loop or chain link 34 is secured through registering apertures in the coacting inner ends of the links 25 and is connected by a cable 35 adapted to be carried to the rear of the car in the usual manner. This cable permits the removal of the wheel from the conductor wire by exerting downward pull upon the coacting ends of the links 25 to close the lower ends of the plates against the action of the coil spring, thus separating the upper ends of the plates a distance greater than the diameter of the conductor wire.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have provided an improved safety trolley wheel which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, durable in use and economical to manufacture.

A brace is also provided between the pole 10 and the plates 15 and comprises a sleeve portion 36 in the form of a clamp secured around the top trolley pole and having brace rods 37 connected to the clamp and plates so as to hold the plates in a vertical position but permit pivotal movement thereof.

I claim A trolley head including the combination with a trolley pole having a horizontal upper forked end, of ashaft arranged transversely through the branches of said forked end, a rotatable trolley wheel on said shaft, trolley wire retaining plates disposed vertically outside of said branches and each having a vertical slot receiving the respective end of said shaft, a pair of eyes on each plate on either side of the shaft, pivot pins engaged through the eyes and shaft and hinging the plates for pivotal movement transverse of said branches, the upper ends of said plates being bent inwardly to overhang said wheel and retaining the trolley wire therein, a tension device between and serving to spread apart the lower ends of said. plates whereby to hold the upper ends thereof in operative position, a toggle lever connected to the lower ends of said plates, a trolley cord connected to said toggle lever for pulling down the trolley pole and simultaneously opening the upper ends of said plates to receive or release the trolley wire, and braces connected to said plates and to the trolley pole in rear of said branches.

in testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. BURTON.

Witnesses:

I. M. Ivnnson, Gnonen Cnnvs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

